14358/1GAZETTE & HERALD: Devoted grandfather David Winter says he has no regrets about giving up his life in Swindon to look after his grandchildren, a year after his daughter died of an asthma attack.

Mr Winter, 65, from North End in Calne, worked as a driver before his 27-year-old daughter, Cheryl Winter, died in Northlands surgery after suffering two asthma attacks.

Mat Young, 28, her partner and father of her youngest daughter, took her to the surgery because she could not breathe properly.

Miss Winter responded to the treatment and was stabilised. Mr Young then went to collect her oldest daughter from school.

Miss Winter, who had suffered from asthma from the age of 12, stayed at the surgery and suffered a second massive attack, from which she died.

Mr Winter then quit his job and moved to his daughter's house in Calne to care for her children Jessica, 9, and Emily, 21 months, full time.

Mr Winter said: "I found out on Tuesday, phoned work the same day and said I had to stop.

"I moved in here the following day.

"For the first nine months it was absolute hell because it was a total readjustment.

"I gave up my way of life for the kids. These last three months have been easier."

Mr Winter said the period of his daughter's death was extremely difficult for everyone involved.

"It was extremely traumatic because not only did I loose my daughter I took over the two children. It all came at once.

"It's settled down and these last three months life's been getting a lot easier. It can only get better and, as the kids get older, they become easier to handle."

Mr Winter said the children's great grandmother, Joyce Barnes, is a great help.

"I get up in the morning, feed the kids, get the oldest off to school and the rest of the day I spend with little 'un, fitting in shopping trips and whatever until it's time to pick the oldest up," said Mr Winter.

"Their great-grandmother does give me a break and allows me to do shopping and what I want to do, but it's the evenings that are the worst when they are in bed. That's when you really crave adult company.

"She'll take them whenever I want her to. She will have Emily at anytime but she's over 80 and she cannot cope with the nights.

"She's been a lifesaver and she's always there if I need her."

Mr Winter said his main priority is the children, although he would love to meet someone.

"I get a lot of pleasure from them. As much as I would love to have somebody in my life, it's not going to happen, because I don't get the chance to meet anybody.

"I would not change it now but it would be nice to have somebody there for me as well but I cannot see it happening.

"My main priority at the moment is these kids and I want them to be decent kids and respectable.

"It became a necessity (looking after the children), but now it's become a joy."

Mr Winter said his son, Peter, who lives in Guernsey, thought he deserved an award: "My son says I deserve a medal and I am doing a fantastic job with them.

"The kids here are happy and they are getting the best that I can give them but it's been hard going."

Great-grandmother, Mrs Barnes, from Walter Sutton Close, Calne, said Mr Winter was coping admirably.

"He's coped very well. It is quite a blow to look after two children suddenly.

"He's doing it for his daughter's children. They're my great-grandchildren. Cheryl was my granddaughter."

Mrs Barnes said she enjoyed seeing the children too: "I promised Cheryl I would always look after her children. I saw her everyday. We were very close."